Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Building Electrification: The Devil’s in the Details

May 22, 2023

Browsing Rewiring America’s website, it’s easy to get excited about the potential benefits of home electrification. Heat pumps, induction stoves, ventless heat pump clothes dryers, breaker boxes, rooftop solar, EVs, etc. All relatively straightforward, and …

Read More
Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Energy Lunch Recap: Nonprofits and the IRA

March 3, 2023

by Paul Cutting, Energy PlannerOn March 21st, WED hosted an Energy Lunch to discuss how the new direct pay option allows non taxable entities to take advantage of the 30% federal renewable energy refundable tax …

Read More
Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

The IRA: A New Year, New Incentives (Including IRA Program Fact Sheets)

January 2, 2023

Paul Cutting, Energy PlannerThe first of many new IRA-related tax credits and incentives came into effect January 1, 2023, and include new and updated tax credits for solar, battery storage, heat pumps, electric vehicles and …

Read More
Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Solar in 2021

October 27, 2020

by Joel Zook, Energy Planner 2021 is going to be another exciting year for solar. It’s a big deal that federal tax credits have been extended, net-metering laws are in place for Iowa’s investor-owned utilities …

Read More
Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

2020 Alliant Residential Rebates

July 27, 2020

Joel Zook, Energy PlannerAlliant Energy has doubled the amount of their residential rebates and dramatically increased the rebate amount for their small business lighting rebate program. The increased rebate levels are only good through the …

Read More
Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

It’s Still a Good Time to Go Solar

May 8, 2020

By Joel Zook, Energy Planner These truly are unprecedented times. With the partial shutdown of our economy that is now slowly crawling back, it’s hard to know what the “new normal” will look like. We …

Read More
Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

What you need to know about solar in 2020

February 24, 2020

Interested in investing in solar for your home, farm, or business? 2020 is the perfect time to go solar! A combination of low solar costs combined with federal and state tax credits (which are decreasing …

Read More
Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Alliant Rate Case Round-up

January 29, 2020

The Iowa Utilities Board has issued a final ruling on the recent Alliant Energy electric rate increase. The Energy District joined the City of Decorah, Luther College, Winneshiek Medical Center, and Aase Haugen Senior Services …

Read More

Decorah Bank and Trust: A key partner for Energy Efficiency

November 26, 2019

By: Briana Burke, Green Iowa AmeriCorpsNE Iowa’s Energy-Efficiency TriadIn 2017 an estimated 66.7% to 86% of energy production in the United States was wasted (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 2017). In a time when we are …

Read More
Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

High Energy Bills? NEICAC can help.

October 31, 2019

Kristin Eggen, Communications SpecialistFor years the Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation has helped low-income households stay safe and warm with the weatherization and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Programs (LIHEAP). If you or someone you …

Read More
Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Tax Credits: Our Take

September 24, 2019

With the potential phase-out of various tax credits, we’re often asked (or we offer) our perspective. Here it is, in brief. Renewable energy tax credits have worked: they have driven the scaling up of the …

Read More

Energy Savvy Business -Fall Learning Series

July 30, 2019

Are you a Decorah Chamber member looking to save money and go green? The Winneshiek Energy District and Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to become an Energy Savvy Business with this four-week course. …

Read More

Swap Bulbs, Save Money

July 29, 2019

When it comes to energy-efficiency, lighting is low-hanging fruit that offers the biggest payback. That’s why energy districts across northeast Iowa have organized quick-and-easy Bulb Swaps for your to quickly exchange up to four incandescent …

Read More

In Review: The 2nd Annual Electric Vehicle Fest

June 24, 2019

Briana Burke, Green Iowa AmeriCorps Logistics CoordinatorEarlier this June, the Winneshiek Energy District and 150 community members gathered at the Winneshiek County fairgrounds for the 2nd annual Electric Vehicle Fest(EV)val. With the sun shining, and …

Read More

May Program features Kerri Johannsen, Iowa Environmental Council

May 13, 2019

Kristin Eggen, Communications SpecialistThe Monthly Energy Breakfast series from the Winneshiek Energy District welcomes Kerri Johannsen from the Iowa Environmental Council to Decorah on Tuesday, May 21. Johannsen will join the local energy conversation at …

Read More